Tobin Bell
Tobin Bell | |
---|---|
Queens, New York, U.S. | |
Other names | Joseph Tobin |
Alma mater | Boston University Montclair State University |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1970s-present |
Known for | Saw franchise |
Children | 2 |
Tobin Bell (born Joseph Henry Tobin Jr.; August 7, 1942) is an American actor. He has appeared in a number of television shows and films but is most recognized for his role as John Kramer / Jigsaw in the Saw franchise.
He started his acting career in the late 1970s and early 1980s doing stand-ins and background work on feature films. He had his first feature film role in Mississippi Burning (1988). Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bell appeared in supporting roles in a number of films and television shows, including The Firm (1993), Unabomber: The True Story (1996), Walker, Texas Ranger (1998), The Sopranos (2001), and 24 (2003).
His breakout role came in 2004 when he was cast as the serial killer Jigsaw in (2023). The series has become one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time and earned Bell recognition as a horror icon.
Early life and education
Joseph Henry Tobin Jr. was born on August 7, 1942, in Queens, New York and raised in Weymouth, Massachusetts.[1][2][3] His English mother, Eileen Julia (née Bell) Tobin, who also had Irish ancestry, was an actress who worked at the Quincy Repertory Company.[4] His American father, Joseph H. Tobin, built and established the radio station WJDA in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1947 and once ran for mayor of Gloversville, New York.[2] He has one sister and one brother.[2]
Bell studied liberal arts and journalism in college, with the intention of becoming a writer and entering the broadcasting field. He also has an interest in environmental matters, holding a master's degree in environmental science from Montclair State University as well as having worked for the New York Botanical Garden.[5] He credits hearing a seminar by Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy at Boston University with inspiring him to begin an acting career.[6] Bell later joined the Actors Studio where he studied with Lee Strasberg and Ellen Burstyn, and joined Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse.[7][8][9]
Career
1979–2003: Work in background roles, film debut and television appearances
Bell played background roles in the late 1970s and early 1980s in over 30 films, including Woody Allen's Manhattan (1979), while also performing on off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway.[8][10][11] Bell said that other actors at the Actors Studio thought doing stand-in and background work was "stupid or degrading", but he believed otherwise.[12] In 1982, he had an uncredited scene in the Sydney Pollack film, Tootsie, playing a waiter at the Russian Tea Room that Pollack used as a tracking shot. He told Movieline, "You know, when you're talking about Tootsie, it's the tip of the iceberg, because those other twenty-nine films I did aren't even on IMDb."[13]
He worked on The Verdict (1982) for two weeks as a courtroom reporter in the trial. He recollected it being a "great opportunity" watching Sidney Lumet and Paul Newman, while also learning the technical aspect of acting.[13] For every role he plays, starting with the initial reading of the script to the final shot of a production, he keeps a journal of various questions about and motivations for his character. "I write all kinds of stream-of-consciousness things that help me."[9] He would have his first speaking role in the 1983 film Svengali playing a waiter with three lines.[13] The same year Bell had a small speaking role as a reporter in the drama Sophie's Choice. In the mid-1980s, Bell said "I was doing off-Broadway plays three nights a week, working on my craft. And a director at the Actors Studio said, 'You know, Tobin you've been doing that for a while. I think you should go to Hollywood and play bad guys'."[12] Bell moved to Los Angeles and was cast in his first feature film, Mississippi Burning in 1988, as "tough and street smart" FBI Agent Stokes.[12]
In 1993, Bell was cast in another Pollack film,
2004–2010: Saw breakthrough role and becoming a horror icon
Bell's
The following year, Bell starred in Saw II, which he said was because "the character of John Kramer was not fully defined and he had an opportunity as an actor to take him to the next level".[17] In 2006's Saw III his character was killed off, however he later signed on for up to five sequels.[25][26] He would return to Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI and Saw 3D where Jigsaw is featured in flashbacks, some focusing on his origin.[27][28] He explained, "Saw doesn't happen in a straight line so, you know, in Hollywood everything's possible. It just depends on if you can do it well you can do it. There's a certain thing that we've done in Saw where it's like pieces of a puzzle. It happens out of sync. So that's how it's done."[28] He provided his voice and likeness for the Jigsaw character in the 2009 Saw video game and its 2010 sequel, Saw II: Flesh & Blood.[29][30]
For his role as Jigsaw, Bell received MTV Movie Awards nominations in 2006 and 2007 for "Best Villain".[31][32] He won "Best Butcher" in the Fuse/Fangoria Chainsaw Awards and was given the "Best Villain in a Film Series" title at the 2010 Chiller-Eyegore Awards.[33][34] The Saw franchise went on to become one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time making, as of 2021, over $1 billion worldwide.[23][35] The character Jigsaw has been labeled a horror icon.[36][21]
2014–present: Later work and return to the Saw franchise
In March 2014, Bell played the antagonist Seth in
In March 2016, Bell joined the soap opera
Bell guest starred in a September 2019 episode of
Personal life
Bell has two sons.[50] He has coached a Little League Baseball team and flag football, with other hobbies including hiking and playing guitar.[51][52] He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[53]
In October 2023, Bell announced he would be leaving Twitter and focusing on his social media interactions on Instagram and YouTube.[54]
Credits
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | Manhattan | Man on Street | Uncredited |
1981 | Tales of Ordinary Madness | Bar Patron | |
1982 | Sophie's Choice | Reporter | Credited as Joseph Tobin[55] |
The Verdict | Courtroom Observer | Uncredited | |
Tootsie | Waiter | ||
1983 | Svengali | ||
1985 | Turk 182 | Sergeant on Bridge | Credited as Joseph Tobin[55] |
1988 | Mississippi Burning | FBI Agent Stokes | |
1989 | An Innocent Man | Zeke | |
1990 | False Identity | Marshall Errickson | |
Loose Cannons | Gerber | ||
Goodfellas | Parole Officer | ||
1992 | Ruby | David Ferrie | |
1993 | Boiling Point | Freddie Roth | |
The Firm | The Nordic Man | ||
In the Line of Fire | Marty Mendoza | ||
Malice | Earl Leemus | ||
1995 | Serial Killer | William Lucian Morrano | |
The Quick and the Dead | 'Dog' Kelly | ||
1996 | Cheyenne | Marshal Toynbee | |
1998 | Brown's Requiem | Stan 'Stan The Man' | |
Overnight Delivery | John Dwayne Beezly | ||
Best of the Best 4: Without Warning | Lukasz Slava | ||
1999 | The 4th Floor | The Locksmith | |
2000 | The Road to El Dorado | Zaragoza (voice) | Grouped under "Voice Talent" |
2001 | Good Neighbor | Geoffrey Martin | |
2002 | Power Play | Clemens | |
Black Mask 2: City of Masks | Moloch | ||
2004 | Saw
|
John Kramer / Jigsaw | |
2005 | Saw II | ||
2006 | Saw III | ||
2007 | Buried Alive | Lester | |
Decoys 2: Alien Seduction | Professor Erwin Buckton | ||
The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It | The Stranger | ||
Boogeyman 2 | Dr. Mitchell Allen | ||
Saw IV | John Kramer / Jigsaw | ||
2008 | Boogeyman 3 | Dr. Mitchell Allen (voice) | Uncredited |
Saw V | John Kramer / Jigsaw | ||
2009 | Saw VI | ||
2010 | Saw 3D | ||
2014 | Dark House | Seth | Also co-producer[56] |
Finders Keepers
|
Dr. Freeman | ||
2015 | Phantom Halo | 'Smashmouth' | |
Manson Family Vacation | 'Blackbird' | ||
2016 | Rainbow Time | Peter | |
2017 | Jigsaw | John Kramer / Jigsaw | |
61: Highway to Hell | The Devil
|
||
12 Feet Deep | McGradey | ||
The Sandman | Valentine | ||
Belzebuth | Vasilio Canetti | ||
2019 | The Way We Weren't | Jerry | Also producer |
Ice Cream in the Cupboard | Pop | ||
Gates of Darkness | Monsignor Canell | ||
2020 | The Call | Edward Cranston | |
A Father's Legacy | Billy Ford | ||
2021 | Let Us In | Mr. Munch | |
Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman | Lewis Fell | ||
2022 | Sleep No More | 'Smashmouth' | |
2023 | ReBroken | Von | |
The Curse of Wolf Mountain | Dr. Avery | [57] | |
The Cello | Vincent | ||
Saw X | John Kramer / Jigsaw | ||
The Curse of the Clown Motel | Mr. Wilson | [58] | |
Altered Reality | Cooper Mason | [59] | |
TBD | The Bunker † | Mr. Riley | Post-production[60] |
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1987–1988 | The Equalizer |
|
|
1989 | Perfect Witness | Dillon | Television film |
1990 | Alien Nation | Brian Knox / Dr. Death | Episode: "Crossing the Line" |
Nasty Boys | Finley | Episode: "The Line" | |
Jake and the Fatman | Vic | Episode: "More Than You Know" | |
Broken Badges | Martin Valentine | Episode: "Pilot" | |
Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride | Barman | Television mini series; 3 episodes | |
1991 | Love, Lies and Murder | Al Stutz | Television mini series; 2 episodes |
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage | Tony Gianini | Episode: "Pilot" | |
1992 | Mann & Machine | Richards | Episode: "No Pain, No Gain" |
Calendar Girl, Cop, Killer? The Bambi Bembenek Story | Unknown | Television film | |
Silk Stalkings | Emil Rossler | Episode: "Hot Rocks" | |
1993 | Seinfeld | Ron | Episode: "The Old Man" |
Sex, Love, and Cold Hard Cash | Mansfield | Television film | |
NYPD Blue | Jerry the Artist | Episode: " Personal Foul "
| |
1994 | Deep Red | Warren Rickman | Television film |
Dead Man's Revenge | Bullock | ||
ER | Hospital Administrator | Episode: " Day One "
| |
Mortal Fear | Dr. Alvin Hayes | Television film | |
New Eden | Ares | ||
1995 | Under Suspicion | Ron O'Keefe | Episode: "A Haunting Case" |
1996 | The Babysitter's Seduction | Detective Frank O'Keefe | Television film |
The Lazarus Man | — | Episode: "Among the Dead" | |
Murder One | Jerry Albanese | Episode: "Chapter Twenty-Two" | |
NYPD Blue | Donald Selness | Episode: " He's Not Guilty, He's My Brother "
| |
Unabomber: The True Story | Theodore Kaczynski
|
Television film | |
Chicago Hope | Luther Evans | Episode: "A Time to Kill" | |
1997 | La Femme Nikita | Perry Bauer | Episode: "Love" |
Nash Bridges | William Boyd | Episode: "Payback" | |
1998 | Stargate SG-1 | Omoc | Episode: " Enigma "
|
One Hot Summer Night | Vincent 'Coupe' De Ville | Television film | |
Walker, Texas Ranger | Karl Storm |
| |
Vengeance Unlimited | Teddy Hix | Episode: "Bitter End" | |
1999 | Strange World | Owen Sassen | Episode: "Eliza" |
The Pretender | Mr. White | Episode: "The World's Changing" | |
2000 | The X-Files | Ashman / Darryl Weaver | Episode: "Brand X" |
Harsh Realm | Slater | Episode: "Reunion"; uncredited | |
2001 | Once and Again | Man In Suit | Episode: "Aaron's Getting Better" |
The Sopranos | Major Carl Zwingli | Episode: "Army of One" | |
The Guardian | Mr. Pierce | Episode: "The Funnies" | |
Alias | SD-6 Agent Karl Dreyer |
| |
2002 | Charmed | Orin | Episode: " The Eyes Have It "
|
The West Wing | Colonel Whitcomb | Episode: " Process Stories "
| |
2003 | 24 | Peter Kingsley Group | 4 episodes
|
2005 | Revelations | Nathan Volk | Television mini series; 5 episodes |
2006 | Casino Cinema | Himself | Episode: "31 October 2006" |
2007 | The Kill Point | Alan Beck | 6 episodes |
2014 | Criminal Minds | Malachi Lee | Episode: " Blood Relations "
|
Wilfred
|
Charles | Episode: " Happiness "
| |
2015 | Skin Wars | Himself/Guest Judge | Episode: "Emotional Rollercoaster" |
2016 | Days of Our Lives | Yo Ling | 5 episodes |
2016–2017, 2023 | The Flash | Doctor Alchemy / Savitar | Voice role, 16 episodes
|
2019 | Creepshow | Chief (segment "Gray Matter") | Episode: "Gray Matter/The House of the Head" |
2020 | MacGyver | Leland |
|
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Saw | John Kramer / Jigsaw | Voice |
2010 | Saw II: Flesh & Blood |
Podcasts
Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | The Gloom | Dr. Lasher | 8 episodes |
Further reading
- Voisin, Scott; ISBN 978-1-59393-342-5.
References
- ^ Barbuto, Dana (October 24, 2008). "Weymouth native puts the buzz in Saw movies". The Patriot Ledger. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Tobin, Ex-candidate In Gloversville, Dies". Schenectady Gazette. September 5, 1977. p. 27. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
- ^ "Famous birthdays for Aug. 7: Abbie Cornish, Samantha Ronson". United Press International. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ "Eileen Tobin Obituary (2018)". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ a b Rose, Lisa (October 22, 2009). "Tobin Bell Saw the future in horror series". NJ.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
- ^ Dobuzinskis, Alex (October 22, 2009). "A Minute With: Tobin Bell of the Saw horror films". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
- ISBN 0-02-542650-8.
- ^ a b Harrington, Richard (October 29, 2007). "Cult icon born with Saw star – Tobin Bell key to franchise's success". The Journal Gazette. Fort Wayne, Indiana: 5D.
- ^ MTV.com. Archivedfrom the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
- ^ Buchanan, Kyle (October 16, 2009). "The Only Tobin Bell Interview You'll Ever Need". Movieline. p. 3. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c Lordygan, Kerr. "Interview: Tobin Bell Discusses His Career and His New Horror Film Dark House". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c Harrington, Richard (October 26, 2007). "Tobin Bell: A Pivotal Piece of the Saw Puzzle". The Washington Post. Vol. 130, no. 325. pp. 32–35. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Buchanan, Kyle (October 16, 2009). "The Only Tobin Bell Interview You'll Ever Need". Movieline. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
- ^ Van Voorhis, Justin (November 15, 2020). "Best Newman Episodes of Seinfeld, Ranked According to IMDB". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ "NYPD Blue: "Personal Foul" (1993)- cast and Crew". AllMovie. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ "NYPD Blue: "He's Not Guilty, He's My Brother" (1996) – Cast and Crew". AllMovie. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Heisler, Steve (October 29, 2008). "Tobin Bell Random Roles". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on January 18, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
- ^ "Stargate Sg-1 – Enigma". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- CBR.com. Archivedfrom the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ Hyde, Gregory (April 10, 2022). "How 24's Most Progressive Story Created Its Best Villain". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Archivedfrom the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ "Lions Gate Gets World Rights To Sundance Midnight Film Saw". indieWire. January 13, 2004. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ a b Clark, Travis (May 28, 2021). "How Saw became a $1 billion horror franchise after nearly going straight-to-DVD, and what the producers have planned for the future". Business Insider. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ "Saw". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ Topel, Fred (May 15, 2007). "New Writers Onboard, But 'Saw IV' Still Promises Surprises – And Jigsaw". Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ McCabe, Joseph (November 5, 2009). "Exclusive: Tobin Bell Talks 'Saw VII'". Fearnet. Archived from the original on January 20, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ Hassenger, Jesse (October 27, 2017). "Jigsaw brings new blood but no new tricks to the Saw series". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Stax (May 15, 2008). "Saw V Cast Talks". IGN. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- Team Xbox. Archived from the originalon June 5, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
- ^ "Konami Announces Tobin Bell's Reprisal As Jigsaw in Saw II: Flesh & Blood". IGN. June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- MTV.com. Archived from the originalon November 8, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- MTV.com. Archived from the originalon August 5, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2016. Note: Click on the 'Winners' tab.
- ^ "fuse Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Winners Announced". AMC Networks. October 16, 2006. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ "Dread Central at the 2009 Chiller-Eyegore Awards and Halloween Horror Nights". DreadCentral. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (May 23, 2021). "Spiral Pushes Saw Franchise Past $1 Billion at Global Box Office". Variety. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (October 24, 2022). "Tobin Bell To Reprise Role As Jigsaw Killer John Kramer In Next 'Saw' Film". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ Chang, Justin (April 8, 2015). "Film Review: Manson Family Vacation". Variety. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (February 26, 2016). "Days of Our Lives just hired an actor from Saw". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ComicBook.com. Archivedfrom the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ Patton, Joshua (May 26, 2023). "All the Characters Who Came Back for The Flash Series Finale". CBR. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ Dry, Jude (April 3, 2017). "My Pretty Pony Casts Saw Alum Tobin Bell as Lead In Stephen King Adaptation (Exclusive)". IndieWire. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Dobbs, Sarah (October 26, 2017). "Tobin Bell on Jigsaw, creating John Kramer and why we can't get enough of Saw". SciFiNow. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ "Jigsaw". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Petski, Denise (April 3, 2019). "Creepshow: Adrienne Barbeau, Giancarlo Esposito & Tobin Bell To Star In Shudder Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Squires, John (April 28, 2021). "Exclusive: Saw Franchise Star Tobin Bell Leads the Cast of Horror Fiction Podcast The Gloom [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ Squires, John (February 6, 2023). "ReBroken Trailer – Tobin Bell Stars in New Horror Movie Ahead of His Saw 10 Return". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (July 20, 2023). "Tobin Bell Becomes Desperate Jigsaw Killer in Saw X First-Look Image". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
- ^ Hibberd, James (September 28, 2023). "Saw X Gets Franchise's Best Reviews, First "Fresh" Rotten Tomatoes Score". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ "Nominations Announced for the Critics Choice Association's 4th Annual "Critics Choice Super Awards" Honoring Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, and Action Movies and Series". Critics' Choice Super Awards. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ Sachs, Mark (October 31, 2008). "Tobin Bell's game plan includes plenty of football". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 30, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ Koltnow, Barry (October 25, 2008). "Tobin Bell carves out a niche as 'Jigsaw'". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Moore, Roger (October 24, 2010). ""Jigsaw" Tobin Bell would rather be cutting a rug". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
- ^ "Tobin Bell Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos". AllMovie. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ Lund, Anthony (October 24, 2023). "Saw X's Jigsaw Says Game Over to Twitter as Tobin Bell Leaves the Platform". MovieWeb. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Joseph Tobin". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- PRWeb. Archivedfrom the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (March 29, 2023). "Danny Trejo and Tobin Bell Action-Horror The Curse Of Wolf Mountain Gets U.S. Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (August 22, 2022). "Fatal Attraction: Doreen Calderon Joins Paramount+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (March 2, 2020). "Awaken: Tobin Bell, Lance Henriksen And Ed Asner To Star In Charles Agron's Indie Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ Grater, Tom (May 18, 2021). "Tony Todd, Tobin Bell, Chelsea Edmundson Starring In Sci-Fi Horror The Bunker". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
External links
- Tobin Bell at IMDb
- Tobin Bell on Instagram
- Tobin Bell at Rotten Tomatoes